Ayodhya issue will top agenda at RSS meet

Tara Shankar Sahay in New Delhi

The Vajpayee government's inability to facilitate construction of the Ram temple in Ayodhya will be on top of the agenda at the two-day national executive meet of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh in Kurukshetra (Haryana) commencing on June 29, a senior leader indicated on Wednesday.

"Some of our members are upset at the irritants coming in the way of construction of the (Ram) temple," Madan Das Devi said.

"We had used our good offices to convince Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leaders in March earlier this year to postpone their agitation in this regard as the government was looking at ways to find an amicable solution. But nothing has happened," he said.

Hinting that the RSS was running out of patience as the government had merely sought to postpone the issue, Das emphasised it was time the BJP took a 'clear stand' on the Ayodhya issue.

"That will make things easier for all concerned," he said.

The RSS will also deliberate on the role of Kanchi sankaracharya Jayendra Saraswati in efforts to find a solution to the Ram temple dispute, Das said.

The seer had on Wednesday met Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee to discuss the Ayodhya issue.

Significantly, he has said that the VHP need not be involved in the Ayodhya issue.

The involvement of hostile foreign forces in the Godhra carnage and the spread of Islamic terrorism in the country were the other issues to be discussed, RSS spokesman M G Vaidya said.